Grapple



H. BRADLEY March 9, 1965 GRAPPLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21, 1962 N s) M: iv Q? INVENTOR United States Patent 9 3,172,694 GRAPPLE Harvey Bradley, Stony Creek, Conn., assignor t Mansaver Industries, Inc, New Haven, Conn. Filed Nov. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 239,139 13 Claims. (Cl. 294-93) This invention relates to lifting grapples and more particularly relates to a device of this character adapted to be employed with a mechanism to lift and transfer materials from one place to another.

As disclosed herein, the invention is embodied in a grapple used in lifting material in coil form, or the like. Grapples of this character are provided with gripping jaws which are carried by or connected to actuating levers which serve as the operating members for the jaws. The jaws are relatively movable so as to be spread open to receive an article to be lifted and then closed upon the article to grip it, while the levers of the linkage system are so arranged that when a lifting pull is exerted upon the levers, the jaws will be moved to a closed position. A grapple of this general type is disclosed in US. Patent 2,816,793, and in some respects, the present invention may be considered an improvement over the grapple disclosed in that patent.

In grapples of the type described, it is preferable that the material engaging jaws engage both the inner and outer peripheries of the material to be lifted. Where the surfaces of the material to be engaged are vertically disposed, it is preferred that the material engaging jaws have straight line motion, so that the jaws upon approaching and engaging the material initially make full surface contact therewith. When the jaws make initial full surface contact with the material, the possibility of damage to the material presented by edge contact of a pivotally supported jaw is eliminated. It is further desirable that such a grapple have adjustable features which will facilitate predetermination of the relative positions of the mate rial engaging jaws so that material in coil form of varying ranges of dimension may be handled with facility.

Accordingly, this invention provides a new and improved grapple adapted to engage and lift material having inner and outer surfaces, for example material in coil form, where the material engaging jaws have only straight line motion and wherein such jaws may be adjustable with respect to each other to accommodate coiled material of varying thickness and dimension.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved grapple of the type described wherein the workengaging jaws initially make full surface contact with the material engaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grapple of the character described including new and improved means for enabling the grapple to centrally engage and lift coiled material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved grapple of the character described having improved adjusting means to facilitate handling of material in coil form in varying sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved grapple mechanism having two pairs of cooperating jaws adapted to engage two sides of a coil wherein each pair of jaws has the same movement as the other pair of jaws.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved grapple wherein the Work-engaging jaws thereof and jaw supporting members have only linear motion.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction ice hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a grapple embodying the invention, the mechanism being shown with the jaws held in a full open position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the grapple of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of the grapple of FIG. 1 showing the grapple in lifting position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the grapple taken along line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the grapple taken along line 55 in FIG. 3.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, a grapple is shown comprising a frame 11 having a base or rest plate 12. A pair of upstanding side plates 13 and 14 and top plates 15 and 16 defining a longitudinal channel or passage are provided along the length of the frame 11. Extending from each end of the frame 11 and movable therein are grapple arms 17 and 17a, each comprising a pair of spaced-apart plate portions 18 and 19 with a series of pin-like members 20, spaced longitudinally and rigidly secured therebe-tween. Carried by each of arms 17 and 1701 between plates 18 and 19 and depending therefrom is a jaw support 21 each having an outer jaw 22 rigidly secured thereon. laws 22 have concave vertical work-engaging surfaces.

The grapple 10 further comprises a pair of inner leg or grapple members 23 and 23a each having a jaw support 24 depending therefrom through slot 25 provided therefor in base plate 12. A slot 26 (FIG. 2) is also provided in base plate 12 at each end thereof to allow inward movement of jaw supports 21. Rigidly secured to each of jaw suports 24 are inner jaws 27 having convex vertical work-engaging surfaces.

Inner grapple members 23 and 23a (FIG. 5) comprise parallel plate members 28 and 29 spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a grapple arm 17 or 17a therebetween and allow linear telescoping relative movement therebetween within frame 11. A lever connecting portion 30 of each of inner grapple members 23 and 23a extends above frame 11 and provides a plurality of pin receiving apertures 31 and 32, adapted to receive a pin connecting inner leg members 23 and 23a to one of levers 34 or 34a, respectively, which are of bell :crank configuration. One end of each of the bell crank levers 34 and 34a is pivotally connected to one end of link members 35 and 350, respectively. The other ends of link members 35 and 35a are pivotally connected about a pin 36 carried by a clevis 37.

Disposed centrally of frame 11 is a center support member 49 which comprises (FIGS. 4 and 5) spaced apart parallel side plates 41 and 42 and interconnecting top and bottom plates 43 and 44, respectively. Plates 43 and 44 are secured between side plates 41 and 42 and the whole assembly of center support 4% is secured between plates 13 and 14 to frame 11, as by means of bolts or the like. A pin or bushing 45 having a pinion 46 thereon is rotatably supported in centering member between side plates 41 and 42. Engaging pinion 46 on opposite sides thereof are rack members 47 and 48. Rack member 47 is slidable on top plate 43 and rack member 48 is slidable on bottom plate 44. Rack member 47 is connected to inner grapple member 23a by means of a pin 49 or the like. Rack member 48 is connected to inner grapple member 23 by similar means, viz. pin 50. With this arrangement, any movement of one of the inner grapple members 23 or 23a will produce rotation of pinion 46 and therefore equal but opposite linear movement of the other inner grapple member.

For simplicity and interchangeability, the rack members 47 and 48 are identically formed and the connections to inner grapple members 23a and 23, respectively, lie in a common plane with respect to the axis of rotation of pinion 46. Each of levers 34 and 34a have finger portions 51 and 51a, respectively, which extend between a selected pair of the pin-like member 29, interconnecting plates 18 and 19 of each of arms 17 and 17a, and which are arranged to exert a force thereon to cause movement of arms 17 and 17a. Each of the levers 34 and 34a, by virture of their pivotal connections to inner grapple members 23 and 23a, respectively, are pivotally connected about pins 33. Pivotal movement of levers 34 and 34a about their respective pivot pin 33 produces movement of finger portions 51 and 51a which produce movement of arms 17 and also inner grapple members 23 and 2311 as hereinafter described.

Considering now the operation of the disclosed grapple, as clevis 37 is lifted (FIG. 3) arms 34 and 34a pivot about their respective pivot points in inner grapple members 23 and 23a and finger portions 51 and 51a thereof engage, in the position shown, the innermost pins on arms 17 and 170. As levers 34 and 34a are raised, finger portions 51 and 5111 move inwardly on the frame 11 forcing arms 17 and 17a inward until outer jaws 22 engage the outer surface of a coil C indicated in broken outline. Now, since the finger portions 51 and 51a can no longer move arms 17 and 17a inwardly on frame 11, pins 33 must move outwardly. Pins 26, at this point, provide a fulcrum point for finger portions 51 and 51a. As levers 34 and 34a move upwardly, pins 33 are moved outwardly in slots 52 provided by guide stops 53 mounted on frame 11 and carry therewith grapple members 23 and 23a thereby causing inner jaws 27 to move outwardly and contact the inner surface of coil C.

Due to the equalizing rack and pinion arrangement interconnecting inner grapple members 23 and 230, any movement of one of the inner jaws produces equal movement and opposite movement of the other inner jaw. In addition, the arrangement of the grapple 10 is such as to make the inner jaws inherently self-centering.

If the grapple 10 is lowered on a coil C, where the coil C is off center with respect to the grapple, as shown in FIG. 1 and then closed to engage coil C, outer jaw 22 on arm 17 will engage the outer surface of coil C before outer jaw 22 of arm 17a. When outer jaw 22 of arm 17 first engages coil C prior to engagement of coil C by jaw 22 of arm 17a, jaw 22 of arm 17 will act to move the grapple 10 to the right, thus centering the grapple 10 with respect to coil C. The inner jaws 24, as shown in their full open position, will be positioned centrally within coil C when outer jaws 22 have engaged the outer surfaces of coil C, as previously described. The rack and pinion arrangement interconnecting inner grapple members 23 and 23a ensures equal movement of inner jaws 27 and therefore each pair of inside and outside jaws equally engages the coil. Moreover, by virtue of the telescoping linear arrangement of arms 17 and 17a within inner leg members 23 and 23a, all jaws have only straight line motion and make initial full surface contact with coil C to ensure positive engagement thereof prior to lifting.

To maintain the grapple 10 in an open position, where the grapple is to be lowered about a coil to be engaged and lifted, a hold-open mechanism 54 is provided. Holdopen mechanism 54 comprises a generally U-shaped yoke member 55 supported from pin 36 and spaced from clevis 37 by a bushing 56 about pin 36. Yoke member 55 may be keyed or otherwise fitted to pin 36 so that it will be rigidly secured thereto and always vertically disposed. Supported between the arms of yoke 55 is a hollow cylindrical barrel member 57 which is provided with upper and lower cam surfaces 58 and 59. Loosely mounted in barrel member 57 and freely slidable therein is a cylindrical element 60 having upper and lower transverse pins 61 and 62, respectively, which protrude from cylindrical element 60. While pins 61 and 62 are in a substantial parallel position, cam surfaces 58 and 59 are offset with respect to each other to the extent that when barrel member 57 is lowered upon pin 62 from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, pins 62 will engage cam surface 59 and cylindrical element 60 and will be rotated through a slight angle. When barrel member 57 is raised from this position and upper cam surfaces 58 thereof engages the upper pin 61, cylindrical element 66 will be rotated through an additional angle in the same direction. The cam surfaces 58 and 59 are so related to each other that each rotation effected by the cam surfaces is substantially 45 degrees while the entire rotation effected by the lowering of barrel member 57 and again lifting it is substantially 90 degrees.

Cylindrical member 60 is provided with a locking head 64. Secured on center support member is a keeper member 65 adapted to receive head 64 therein. As illustrated in FIG. 2, head 64 is engaged below the overhanging lugs 66 in a locked position and in this position of the parts cylindrical element 66 will be locked with the center support member 40 to support the grapple through the yoke 55 from clevis 37. However, when head 64, which is of greater length than width, is rotated through an angle of 90 degrees and cylindrical element 60 is raised, the head will pass through the opening defined by the lugs 66 and be disengaged from the keeper 65 to release the centering member 40 from the clevis 37. Thereafter, as clevis 37 has a lifting force applied thereto, the levers 34 and 34a and links 35 and 35a as they are extended upwardly will operate the jaw members as previously described.

When the grapple is opened and locked in the open position, as shown in FIG. 1, head 64 will be engaged in keeper 65 so that the grapple is supported from clevis 37 through yoke 55. This will maintain the grapple in the open position so that the jaws may be positioned to engage a coil. When the grapple is lowered such that it is supported on the coil C through base plate 12 resting thereon, cylindrical member 60 and head 64 carried thereby will be rotated through an angle of substantially degrees by cam surface engaging lower pin 62. When an upwardly directed lifting force is applied to clevis 37, the upper cam surface 58 of cylindrical member engages upper pin 61 and rotates cylindrical member 60 an additional 45 degrees in the same direction until head 64 registers with the opening in keeper to allow exit of the head 64 therefrom. Further upper movement of clevis 37 withdraws head 64 from keeper 65 and movement of levers 34 and 34a and links 35 and 35a operate the elements of the grapple to cause operative movement of the jaws toward the surfaces to be engaged. When the outer jaws 22 and inner jaws 27 securely engage the outer and inner surfaces of the coil, the oil (FIG. 3) may be lifted with the grapple. When the coil is deposited and the clevis 37 farther lowered, links 35 and 35a and levers 34 and 340 will fold together toward the position shown in FIG. 1 and the hold-open device will operate in a reverse manner to that previously described to lock the jaws in the full-open position. The empty grapple may now be removed and it will be again supported in a locked open position from clevis 37, as shown in FIG. 1.

Links 35 and 35a are provided with stiffening plates 68 and 69, respectively. Link 35a may be constructed of parallel spaced-apart link members, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the link member 35a with stiffening member 69 thereon would be of T-shape in cross section. The link member 35 with stiffening member 68 thereon would be of an inverted U-shape in cross section while lever member 34 would be arranged to be received within link member 35.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the

disclosed grapple is provided with a facility for rapid dimensional adjustment to compensate for coils of varying size. To aid in returning the jaws of the grapple to an open position and positive engagement of the hold-open mechanism when in such position, a spring 70 is connected between center support member 40 and a point on lever 34a which spring acts to bias the actuating linkage towards a folded position. To adjust the range of the jaws, the pivot pins 33 are first removed from inner grapple members 23 and 23a disconnecting levers 34 and 34a from inner grapple members 23 and 23a, respectively. The outer jaws may then be adjusted by lifting the finger portions 51 and 51a of levers 34 and 34a, respectively, and sliding the finger portions between selected pins 20 on each of the arms 17 and 17a. With the pivot pins 33 removed, the inner jaws 27 may be moved with respect to guide stops 53 and pin 33 then replaced in the levers 34 and 34a and selected ones of the plurality of apertures 31 and 32.

The levers 34 and 34a and links 35 and 35a can only develop a given range of travel dependent on their dimensions. This travel can all be used on the outer jaws only (assuming the inner jaws remains fixed in the maximum open position as shown in FIG. 1) or some portion of this travel can be used on the inner jaws. The maximum amount of permissible movement of the inner jaws is determined by the length of slot 52 which receives pin 33. The length of slot 52 is chosen as a function of the minimum operating clearance of outer jaws 22 over a coil C and the adjustment pitch of pins 20 of arms 17 and 17a.

The invention provides a grapple wherein the jaw support members, as well as the jaws have only linear motion and the jaws make initial full surface contact with material engaged and thereby minimize the possibility of damaging the material engaged. The telescoping arrangement of the jaw support members facilitates adjustment of the jaws for various dimension coils and enables linear motion of the grappling elements. Moreover, the grapples embodying the invention are inherently self-centering with respect to a coil to be engaged and lifted, and equal movement of the jaws is inherent.

It is thus seen that the objects set forth above, as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention are efficiently attained. While the invention for purposes of disclosure has been described and illustrated in a preferred embodiment thereof, modifications to the discolsed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is in tended to cover in the claims appended hereto all modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A grapple comprising a frame member, inner and outer work engaging jaw support members carried by and slidable on said frame member, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair whereby as the other ends of the said crossed levers are raised they produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said crossed levers rotate about their respective points of contact with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members, and means interconnecting said inner jaw support members to equalize movement of said inner jaw support members.

2. The grapple of claim 1 wherein work engaging jaws having vertical Work engaging surfaces are rigidly secured to and depend from said jaw support members.

3. A grapple comprising a frame member, inner and outer work engaging jaw support members carried by and slidable in said frame member, said frame member defining a channel for guiding said inner and outer jaw sup port members and allowing only linear movement of said support members in the channel, each of said inner and outer jaw support members of a pair being arranged in telescoping relation in said frame, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair whereby as the other ends of said crossed levers are raised said engaging ends thereof produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said crossed levers rotate about their respective points of contact with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members.

4. A grapple comprising a frame member, inner and outer work engaging jaw support members carried by and slidable in said frame member, each of said inner and outer jaw support members of a pair being arranged in telescoping relation in said frame, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair whereby as the other ends of said crossed levers are raised said engaging ends thereof produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said crossed levers rotate about their re spective points of contact with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members, and means interconnecting said inner jaw support members to equalize movement of said inner jaw support members.

5. The grapple of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means comprise a rack connected to each of said inner jaw support members and a pinion engaging said racks on opposite sides thereof.

6. A grapple comprising a frame member, inner and outer work engaging jaw support members carried by and slidable in said frame member, said frame member defining a channel for guiding said inner and outer jaw support members and allowing only linear movement of said support members in the channel, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair whereby as the other ends of said crossed levers are raised they pro duce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work-engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said crossed levers rotate about their respective points of contact with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members.

7. The grapple of claim 6 further comprising guide means mounted on said frame for engaging said pivotal connections between said levers and said inner jaw sup port members to limit outward movement thereof and minimum inner position.

8. The grapple of claim 7 wherein the pivotal connection of said levers to said inner jaw support members is adjustable.

9. The grapple of claim 6 wherein the point of engagement of said levers with said outer jaw support members is adjustable to determine the span between jaws carried by said outer jaw support members.

10. The grapple of claim 6 further comprising a pair of link members, each pivotally connected at one end thereof one of said other ends of said crossed levers, the other ends of said link members being pivotally connected together, and means for releasably locking said pivotal connection of said link members to said frame to thereby prevent movement of said levers and maintain said jaw support members in an open position.

11. A grapple comprising a frame member, defining a longitudinal channel, inner and outer work-engaging j awsupport members carried by and slidable in said channel,

a work-engaging jaw rigidly supported by and depending from each of said jaw support members, each jaw support member of a pair having telescoping movement in said channel with respectto the other of said pair, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to one of said inner jaw support members and having an end engaging the mating outer jaw support member whereby as said crossed levers are raised, they produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members in said channel until the work engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said crossed levers rotate about their respective points of contact with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members and means interconnecting said inner jaw support members to equalize movement of said inner jaw support members.

12. A grapple comprising a frame member, said frame member defining a channel therein, inner and outer Workengaging jaw support members carried by said frame and slidable in the channel, the channel allowing only linear movement of said support members, each of said inner and outer jaw support members of a pair being arranged in telescoping relation in the channel, and a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end releasably engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair whereby as the ends of said cross levers are raised, said engaging ends thereof produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work-engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said cross levers rotate about their respective points of engagement with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members.

13. A grapple comprising a frame member, said frame member defining a channel therein, inner and outer workengaging jawsupport members carried by said frame and slidable in the channel, the channel allowing only linear movement of said support members, each of said inner and outer jaw support members of a pair being arranged in telescoping relation in the channel, a pair of crossed levers each pivotally connected to an inner jaw support member and having an end releasably engaging the mating outer jaw support member of the respective pair, whereby as the other ends of said cross levers are raised said engaging ends thereof produce inward movement of said outer jaw support members until work-engaging jaws supported thereby engage an object positioned therebetween and thereafter said cross levers rotate about their respective points of engagement with said outer support members causing outward movement of said inner jaw support members, and means interconnecting said inner jaw support members, to equalize movement of said inner jaw support members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,437,485 3/48 Sonnenschein 294-106 2,816,793 12/57 Elberty 294-406 3,029,100 4/62 Laine 294-106 FOREIGN PATENTS B36,860 11/56 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

' ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner. 

1. A GRAPPLE COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER, INNER AND OUTER WORK ENGAGING JAW SUPPORT MEMBERS CARRIED BY AND SLIDABLE ON SAID FRAME MEMBER, A PAIR OF CROSSED LEVERS EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO AN INNER JAW SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING AN END ENGAGING THE MATING OUTER JAW SUPPORT MEMBER OF THE RESPECTIVE PAIR WHEREBY AS THE OTHER ENDS OF THE SAID CROSSED LEVERS ARE RAISED THEY PRODUCED INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID OUTER JAW SUPPORT MEMBERS UNTIL WORK ENGAGING JAWS SUPPORTED THEREBY ENGAGE AN OBJECT POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN AND THEREAFTER SAID CROSSED LEVERS ROTATE ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE POINTS OF CONTACT WITH SAID OUTER SUPPORT MEMBERS, AND MEANS MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER JAW SUPPORT MEMBER TO EQUALINTERCONNECTING SAID INNER JAW SUPPORT MEMBERS TO EQUALIZE MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER JAW SUPPORT MEMBERS. 